7.5. SR 12-15-2008~~i
City of
Elk -...-~
River
REQUEST FOR ACTION
To Item Number
Ci Council 7.5.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Administration December 15, 2008 effre A. Beahen, Chief of Police
Item Description Reviewed by
Replacement of Police Department K-9 and K-9 Handler Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Requesting that the Council approve the replacement of K-9 handler Brian Boos and his K-9 partner
"Bravo".
Background/Discussion
Officer Brian Boos has been our K-9 handler since September of 2001. His current K-9 partner, "Bravo"
has become increasingly unable to perform his duties as a result of a bowel disorder. The dog is
approaching 10 years, and according to the vet, has reached the end of his canine career. The dog will be
able to perform in a limited capacity up until 12-31-08. At that point the dog will be retired and Officer
Boos will return to his position as a patrol officer.
Officer Boos is not interested in continuing on as a canine handler, and our policy actually only allows the
handler to remain in that position for the life of their dog.
The K-9 position is a very valuable one here at the police department, a position which has seen an
increased need over the past six months. Just last night we needed a K-9 to track a fleeing suspect, and
had to wait for the nearest K-9, which was a Wright County Unit that came all the way from Howard
Lake.
We have located a canine trainer, who is willing to train a new handler for us on a one to one basis, at the
same cost of sending a handler through the normal schools in either Minneapolis or St. Paul. The canine
handler would receive the same level of certification as they would if they went through the other schools.
The trainer has certified canine units all over the state, and has trained numerous dogs that have gone on
to become State and National canine champions.
The dogs being used in canine service are being purchased through law enforcement purchasers in
Belgium. The current price for a partially trained adult police canine is approximately $6,000-$8,000. The
cost for training including narcotics training is $4,500. The training would be 10-weeks long, and would
be 400 hours in length.
We have utilized a resume and oral interview process to select a replacement canine handler from within
our patrol ranks. That officer is Adam Bebeau.
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Financial Impact
This was not a budgeted item as we had hoped to have gotten a longer life out of our current dog. We
have recently been blessed with good fortune however with significant forfeitures and seizures, and have
sufficient forfeiture funds available to pay for the dog and the training. Other than supplying a kennel
($558.53) and some concrete (Estimated cost less than $400), we have all the equipment needed for the
K-9 program to continue. The K-9 position is budgeted for, and no overtime or extra payroll costs would
be associated with any of the training.
Attachments
None
Action Motion by Second by Vote
Follow Up
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